Method and system for transmitter output power compensation

ABSTRACT

Aspects of compensating for transmitter output power may comprise sampling an on-chip transmitter circuit temperature at various time instants and determining a feedback temperature compensation value. At least one digital-to-analog converter may be adjusted by utilizing the feedback temperature compensation value, which may correspond to the sampled temperature. The digital-to-analog converter may be an I-component digital-to-analog converter and/or a Q-component digital-to-analog converter. At least a portion of the on-chip transmitter circuit may be characterized to determine power output dependence of the on-chip transmitter circuit on temperature variation of the on-chip transmitter circuit. Based on this characterization, a feedback temperature compensation value that may correspond to the sampled temperature may be used to adjust the digital-to-analog converter. The feedback temperature compensation value may be, for example, from a lookup table or an algorithm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS/INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

This application makes reference to: U.S. patent application Ser. No.______ (Attorney Docket No. 16267US01) filed ______, 2004; and

U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. 16309US01)filed ______, 2004.

The above stated applications are being incorporated herein by referencein their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention relate to transmission of RFsignals. More specifically, certain embodiments of the invention relateto a method and system for transmitter output power compensation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In some conventional systems, a transmitter may broadcast radiofrequency (RF) signals. Generally, RF signals are generated byupconverting baseband signals to intermediate frequency (IF) signals,and then further upconverting the IF signals to RF signals. The RFsignals may be amplified by power amplifiers before being transmitted bya transmit antenna. Due to the proliferation wireless devices such astelephones, walkie-talkies, personal digital assistants (PDAs), androuters in home computer networks, a strong transmitted signal with aparticular operating frequency band may cause interference for wirelessdevices operating within the same frequency band or other neighboringfrequency bands.

Frequency reuse may be utilized to minimize the impact of interferencebetween neighboring frequency bands. With frequency re-use, multipletransmitters may be assigned to utilize the same frequency, as long asthe transmitters are far enough away from each other that theirtransmitted signals do not interfere with each other. The most commonexample of frequency re-use today may be cellular communication networksutilizing time-domain multiple access (TDMA) standard. In this regard,the same frequency is utilized in cells that are not in close proximitywith each other so as to minimize the effects of interference. Thenetwork operators take much care in ensuring that various frequencybandwidths are spread out among the plurality of cells such thattransmitted signal in one cell does not overpower other transmittedsignals in other cells, which utilize the same frequency. Otherfrequency re-use examples are radio stations and television stations.The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) strictly regulates thebroadcasting frequencies of the radio and television stations in orderto keep neighboring stations from interfering with each other. The FCCalso regulates the power output of the transmitting stations in order tokeep distant stations from interfering with local stations that may bebroadcasting at the same frequency.

In other instances, all transmitters may transmit in the same frequencybandwidth, but, still, care must be taken to ensure that no “rogue”transmitter transmits at too high power to “drown out” other transmittedsignals. Code division multiple access (CDMA) system is an example whereall transmitters transmit over the same frequency bandwidth. In CDMA,special algorithms are used to code and/or decode a specific signal ofinterest to a transmitter and/or a receiver. Although all receivers mayreceive the transmitted signals, when a receiver's specific code isutilized by a receiver, all other signals except the desired signalappears as random noise. However, if a transmitter transmits too muchpower, then that signal would appear as too much noise to otherreceivers, and the desired signals at other receivers may be drowned outby the noise. Therefore, a transmitted signal must be transmitted withenough power to be able to be received and decoded by a receiver, andyet must not have too much power that it interferes with other signals.

Generally, controlling output power of a transmitter is extremelyimportant to minimize interference with other transmitted signals whilestill providing enough transmitted signal strength to be able to bereceived and processed by a receiver. In addition, a transmitter oflimited power source, for example, mobile communication handset with asmall battery, may need to accurately control power output in order tomaximize battery life. However, a problem is that performance of variouselectronic devices, for example, resistors or semiconductor devices onintegrated circuits may be affected by temperature. As temperaturerises, a resistor's resistance may increase, thereby affecting currentand voltage, and vice versa as temperature decreases. Similarly, thecurrent that a transistor on a chip may conduct may vary as temperaturechanges. The change in current and/or voltage may change the transmitteroutput power.

Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditionalapproaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, throughcomparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention asset forth in the remainder of the present application with reference tothe drawings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and systemfor transmitter output power compensation. Aspects of the method maycomprise sampling an on-chip transmitter circuit temperature at aplurality of time instants and determining a feedback temperaturecompensation value at one or more time instants. At least onedigital-to-analog converter may be adjusted by utilizing the feedbacktemperature compensation value, which may correspond to the sampledtemperature. The digital-to-analog converter may be an I-componentdigital-to-analog converter and/or a Q-component digital-to-analogconverter.

The method may comprise characterizing at least a portion of the on-chiptransmitter circuit to determine power output dependence of the on-chiptransmitter circuit on temperature variation of the on-chip transmittercircuit. Based on this characterization, a lookup table may be generatedwhere the feedback temperature compensation values may correspond to thesampled temperatures. The feedback temperature compensation value maythen be acquired from the lookup table for use in adjusting thedigital-to-analog converter.

An alternate embodiment of the invention may calculate the feedbacktemperature compensation value via a compensation algorithm, in whichthe determined feedback temperature compensation value may be equal to:((an initial compensation value)+((a present temperature−an initialtemperature)/(a scale factor))).Based on the characterization of the on-chip transmitter circuit,default values may be assigned to the initial compensation value, to theinitial temperature, and to the scale factor. When these default valuesare utilized, an output of the digital-to-analog converter may be adesired value when the feedback temperature compensation value is equalto the initial compensation value and the sampled temperature is equalto the initial temperature. The temperature may be sampled at a periodicrate, and that rate may vary. The periodic rate may be varied inresponse to a changing rate of the sampled temperature.

Aspects of the system may comprise an on-chip temperature sensor circuitthat samples temperature in an on-chip transmitter circuit at aplurality of time instants. At least one digital-to-analog converter inthe on-chip transmitter circuit may be adjusted via a feedbacktemperature compensation value at one or more time instants, and thedetermined feedback temperature compensation value may correspond to thesampled temperature. The digital-to-analog converter may be anI-component digital-to-analog converter and/or a Q-componentdigital-to-analog converter.

At least a portion of the on-chip transmitter circuit may becharacterized to determine the power output dependence of the on-chiptransmitter circuit on temperature variation of the on-chip transmittercircuit. The temperature characterization of the on-chip transmittercircuit may lead to generation of a lookup table, in which the lookuptable may be populated with feedback temperature compensation valuesthat correspond to temperatures. Circuitry may be utilized to acquirethe determined feedback temperature compensation value from the lookuptable based on the sampled temperature, and, in this manner, compensatethe power output of the transmitter for temperature variation.

Alternatively, the feedback temperature compensation value may becalculated utilizing a compensation algorithm, in which the determinedfeedback temperature compensation value may be equal to:((an initial compensation value)+((a present temperature−an initialtemperature)/(a scale factor))).Based on the characterization of the on-chip transmitter circuit,default values may be assigned to the initial compensation value, to theinitial temperature, and to the scale factor. When these default valuesare utilized, the output of the digital-to-analog converter may be adesired value in instances when the feedback temperature compensationvalue is equal to the initial compensation value and the sampledtemperature is equal to the initial temperature. The temperature may besampled at a periodic rate, and that rate may vary in response to achanging rate of the sampled temperature.

Another embodiment of the invention may provide a machine-readablestorage, having stored thereon, a computer program having at least onecode section executable by a machine, thereby causing the machine toperform the steps as described above for transmitter output powercompensation.

These and other advantages, aspects and novel features of the presentinvention, as well as details of an illustrated embodiment thereof, willbe more fully understood from the following description and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 a is a block diagram of an exemplary transmitter system andreceiver system that may be utilized in connection with an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 1 b is a block diagram of an exemplary transmitter block of FIG. 1a, for example, that may be utilized in connection with an embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating at least a portion of anexemplary transmitter front end of FIG. 1 b, for example, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating transmitter power amplifier output powerwith respect to temperature, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating transmitter power amplifier output powerwith respect to variance of power amplifier input, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating transmitter power amplifier output powerwith respect to variances of power amplifier input and temperature, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 a is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating a two-stagecompensation for transmitter output power, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 b is a graph illustrating output current in a digital-to-analogconverter with respect to a control signal, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary flow diagram of an algorithm for temperaturecompensation of a transmitter output power, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain embodiments of the invention may be found in a method and systemfor temperature sensor for transmitter output power compensation.Various aspects of the invention may be utilized in, for example, a chiputilized in a mobile communication handset, which may be adapted totransmit RF signals. Transmit power specifications for the handset mayhave a very narrow range, for example, 3 decibels-milliwatt (dBm), plusor minus 2 decibels (dBs), and operating temperature variation for thehandset may cause the transmit power to drift out of the specified powerrange. An embodiment of the invention may provide temperature sensing inorder that appropriate compensation may be applied to transmitter powerfluctuations due to temperature variations.

FIG. 1 a is a block diagram of an exemplary transmitter system andreceiver system that may be utilized in connection with an embodiment ofthe invention. Referring to FIG. 1 a, there is shown a transmitter block110 and a receiver block 120. The transmitter block 110 may comprisesuitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to filter,modulate, and amplify a baseband signal to an RF signal, and transmitthe RF signal. The receiver block 120 may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to receive the RF signal andto demodulate the RF signal to the baseband signal.

In operation, the transmitter block 110 may be adapted to transmit RFsignals over a wired or wireless medium. The receiver block 120 may beadapted to receive the RF signals and process it to a baseband signalthat may be suitable for further processing, for example, as data orvoice.

FIG. 1 b is a block diagram of an exemplary transmitter system of FIG. 1a, for example, that may be utilized in connection with an embodiment ofthe invention. Referring to FIG. 1 b, the RF transmitter system 150 maycomprise a transmitting antenna 151, a transmitter front end 152, abaseband processor 154, a processor 156, and a system memory 158. Thetransmitter front end (TFE) 152 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,and/or code that may be adapted to upconvert a baseband signal directlyto an RF signal and to transmit the RF signal via a transmitting antenna151. The TFE 152 may also be adapted to upconvert a baseband signal toan IF signal, and/or upconvert the IF signal to an RF signal and thentransmit the RF signal via the transmitting antenna 151. The TFE 152 maybe adapted to execute other functions, for example, filtering thebaseband signal, and/or amplifying the baseband signal.

The baseband processor 154 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,and/or code that may be adapted to process baseband signals, forexample, convert a digital signal to an analog signal, and/orvice-versa. The processor 156 may be any suitable processor orcontroller such as a CPU or DSP, or any type of integrated circuitprocessor. The processor 156 may comprise suitable logic, circuitry,and/or code that may be adapted to control the operations of the TFE 152and/or the baseband processor 154. For example, the processor 156 may beutilized to update and/or modify programmable parameters and/or valuesin a plurality of components, devices, and/or processing elements in theTFE 152 and/or the baseband processor 154. Control and/or datainformation, which may include the programmable parameters, may betransferred from at least one controller and/or processor, which may beexternal to the RF transmitter system 150, to the processor 156.Similarly, the processor 156 may be adapted to transfer control and/ordata information, which may include the programmable parameters, to atleast one controller and/or processor, which may be externally coupledto the RF transmitter block 110.

The processor 156 may utilize the received control and/or datainformation, which may comprise the programmable parameters, todetermine an operating mode of the TFE 152. For example, the processor156 may be utilized to select a specific frequency for a localoscillator, or a specific gain for a variable gain amplifier. Moreover,the specific frequency selected and/or parameters needed to calculatethe specific frequency, and/or the specific gain value and/or theparameters needed to calculate the specific gain, may be stored in thesystem memory 158 via the processor 156. The information stored insystem memory 158 may be transferred to the TFE 152 from the systemmemory 158 via the processor 156. The system memory 158 may comprisesuitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to store aplurality of control and/or data information, including parametersneeded to calculate frequencies and/or gain, and/or the frequency valueand/or gain value.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating at least a portion of theexemplary transmitter front end of FIG. 1 b, for example, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 2, there is showndigital-to-analog converters 205 and 220, low pass filters 210 and 225,mixers 215 and 230, a power amplifier 235 and an antenna 240.

The digital-to-analog converters (DACs) 205 and 220 may comprise logic,circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to convert a digital inputsignal to an analog output signal. The digital input signal may be aplurality of bits, and the rate of conversion of the digital input toanalog output may be pre-determined or under external control, forexample, under programmed control by a controller. The controller may beexternal to the RF transmitter system 150, or part of the RF transmittersystem 150 (FIG. 1 b), for example, the processor 156 (FIG. 1 b).

The DACs 205 and 220 may also comprise at least one input that maycontrol base bias current in each DAC. A base bias current in a DAC maybe the output current that may correspond to an input digital value thatmay represent a value of, for example, one. For any other input digitalvalue that may represent a different value, for example, five, theoutput current of the DAC may be five times the base bias current. Thebase bias current may be fixed at a pre-determined value, or it may bedynamically changed by a controller, for example, the processor 156(FIG. 1 b).

The low pass filters 210 and 225 may comprise logic, circuitry, and/orcode that may be adapted to selectively pass signals below apre-determined frequency while attenuating signals greater than thatfrequency. The mixers 215 and 230 may comprise suitable logic,circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to have as inputs twosignals, and generate an output signal, which may be a difference of thefrequencies of the two input signals and/or a sum of the frequencies ofthe two input signals. The power amplifier 235 may comprise suitablelogic, circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to amplify inputsignals and output the amplified signals. The antenna 240 may comprisesuitable logic, circuitry, and/or code that may be adapted to receive RFsignals and transmit the RF signals over a wired or wireless medium.

In operation, input signals I-channel digital IF and Q-channel digitalIF may be received by the DACs 205 and 220, respectively, and the DACs205 and 220 may be adapted to convert the digital signals to analogsignals. The DACs 205 and 220 may communicate the analog output signalsto the low pass filters 210 and 225, respectively. The low pass filters210 and 225 may filter the analog signals from the DACs 205 and 220, andmay communicate the filtered signals to mixers 215 and 230,respectively. The mixers 215 and 230 may utilize local oscillatorsignals LOI and LOQ, respectively, to upconvert the filtered signals toRF signals. The outputs of the mixers 215 and 230 may be communicated toan input of the power amplifier 235 where the outputs of the mixers 215and 230 may add together to a single RF signal. The power amplifier 235may amplify the single RF signal and communicate an amplified RF signalto a transmitting antenna 240. The transmitting antenna 240 may transmitthe amplified RF signal.

FIG. 3 is a graph illustrating transmitter power amplifier output powerwith respect to temperature, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. Referring to FIG. 3, there is shown three plots 300, 310 and320, and a plurality of specific power points 305, 315 and 325. The plot300 may illustrate the output power of the power amplifier 235 (FIG. 2)at −40° C. The plot 310 may illustrate the output power of the poweramplifier 235 at 27° C., and the plot 320 may illustrate the outputpower of the power amplifier 235 at 105° C. The specific power point 315may be the nominal output power of the power amplifier 235 for an inputIn1 at a nominal temperature of 27° C. For the same input In1, thespecific power point 305 may illustrate that at −40° C., the poweramplifier 235 may output a higher than nominal output power. Similarly,the specific power point 325 may illustrate the lower than the nominaloutput power of the power amplifier 235 at 105° C.

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating transmitter power amplifier output powerwith respect to variance of a power amplifier input, in accordance withan embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown agraph 400 with specific power points 402, 404 and 406, and saturationpoint 410. The graph 400 may illustrate the output power of the poweramplifier 235 (FIG. 2) as a function of a power amplifier input, at aconstant temperature. The output power of the power amplifier 235 may bea linear function of the input up to the saturation point 410. However,beyond the saturation point 410, the output power may not increaselinearly with respect to the increase in the input amplitude. Therefore,care should be taken that the power amplifier input does not increasebeyond In4, as the power amplifier 235 may saturate and generateundesired, non-linear output.

In the linear region 450 to the left of the saturation point 410, poweramplifier inputs of In1, In2 and In3 may correspond to specific powerpoints of 402, 404 and 406, in which there is a linear relationshipbetween power amplifier inputs and the output powers of the poweramplifier 235. In the non-linear region 460, the output of the poweramplifier 235 may saturate and may not increase linearly as the inputamplitude increases.

FIG. 5 is a graph illustrating transmitter power amplifier output powerwith respect to variances of power amplifier input and temperature, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 5,there is shown plots 500, 510 and 520, and a plurality of specific powerpoints 505, 515 and 525. The plot 500 may illustrate the output power ofthe power amplifier 235 (FIG. 2) at −40° C. The plot 510 may illustratethe output power of the power amplifier 235 at 27° C., and the plot 520may illustrate the output power of the power amplifier 235 at 105° C.

Unlike the specific power points 305, 315 and 325 in FIG. 3 that have acommon power amplifier input In1, the specific power points 505, 515 and525 may correspond to three distinct power amplifier inputs In1, In2 andIn3. The three distinct power amplifier inputs In1, In2 and In3 may bedue to a temperature effect on devices that may generate inputs for thepower amplifier 235, for example, the DACs 205 and 220 (FIG. 2). TheDACs 205 and 220 may generate a constant output current for a specificdigital input value. However, as temperature changes, the output currentof the DACs 205 and 220 may vary even though the digital input value mayremain constant. The outputs of the mixers 215 and 230 (FIG. 2) may alsovary with temperature.

FIG. 6 a is an exemplary flow diagram illustrating a two-stagecompensation for transmitter output power, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6 a, there isshown steps 600 and 610 that may be used to compensate for temperatureeffects in transmitter output power, which may be an output of the poweramplifier 235. In step 600, some devices, such as the power amplifier235 and the DACs 205 and 220, may utilize proportional to absolutetemperature (PTAT) compensation to minimize output variation due totemperature. PTAT compensation may adjust the output of a device astemperature changes in order to attempt to keep the output constant fora constant input. However, even with the PTAT compensation, the outputpower of the power amplifier 235 may show slight variations withtemperature change, even when digital input values to the DACs 205 and220 (FIG. 2) may remain constant.

In step 610, a temperature dependant current compensation may begenerated for bias currents in DACs 205 and 220. The DACs 205 and 220may have a base bias current that may be generated as an output when theinput digital value is equivalent to, for example, one. As the inputdigital value increases, the output current of the DAC may increase tothe same multiple of the base bias current as the input digital value isa multiple of the value one. However, the base bias current may need tobe adjusted to a different current value as temperature changes in orderto keep the output power of the power amplifier 235 constant atdifferent temperatures for the same digital input value to the DACs 205and 220.

FIG. 6 b is a graph illustrating an output current in adigital-to-analog converter with respect to a control signal, inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 6 b,there is shown a graph 650 of the output current of a DAC, for example,the DAC 205 and/or 220 (FIG. 2). The base bias current of the DAC 205and/or 220 may be adjusted by an input control signal IDAC_Control,which may be generated based on determination of the relationshipbetween the temperature of a transmitter circuit, for example, the TFE152 (FIG. 1 b), and the base bias current needed for the DAC 205 and/or220. For a constant digital input value, the output current of the DAC205 and/or 220, which may depend on the base bias current, may beadjusted by the input control signal IDAC_Control.

As temperature of the transmitter circuit, for example, the TFE 152,changes, the input control signal IDAC_Control 205 and/or 220 to the DACmay be adjusted, utilizing the determination of the relationship betweenthe temperature of the transmitter circuit and the base bias current forthe DAC 205 and/or 220.

FIG. 7 is an exemplary flow diagram of an algorithm for temperaturecompensation of a transmitter output power, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention. In step 700, start values for T_(start) andT_(step) may be programmed, and IDAC_Control may be assigned a defaultvalue. In step 710, a temperature of the transmitter circuit may bedetermined. In step 720, the new IDAC_Control value may be calculated.

Referring to FIGS. 1 b, 2 and 7, there is shown a plurality of stepscompensating for variation of transmitter output power due totemperature. In step 700, the start values T_(start) and T_(step) may beprogrammed in to a register or memory location, and IDAC_Control may beassigned a default value. T_(start) may be a temperature relating to atleast a portion of the transmitter system illustrated in FIG. 2.T_(step) may be a conversion factor that may be utilized to determinethe base bias current for the DACs 205 and 220. T_(start), T_(step) andIDAC_Control may be utilized by a processor, for example, processor 156,to calculate a value for the IDAC_Control. The start values forT_(start) and T_(step), and the default IDAC_Control value may bedetermined by measuring various parameters of at least a portion of thetransmitter system 150, for example, the base bias currents for the DACs205 and 220, and/or the output currents of the DACs 205 and 220, and/orthe output of the power amplifier 235.

In step 710, temperature of at least a portion of the transmitter system150 may be determined. This temperature may be utilized by a processor,for example, processor 156, to calculate a value for the IDAC_Control.The temperature may be determined at a plurality of time instants, andthe time instants may optionally be periodic. In step 720, a processor,for example, processor 156 may calculate a value for the IDAC_Control byutilizing a following equation:IDAC_Control=IDAC_Control+((Determined Temperature)−T _(start))/T_(step).The newly calculated value for IDAC_Control, which may be the same as aprevious value for IDAC_Control, may be communicated to the DACs 205 and220.

Although specific embodiments of the invention may have been described,for example, the equation for IDAC_Control, the invention need not be solimited. Other equations may be utilized for transmitter output powercompensation. Additionally, a lookup table may be utilized in place ofthe equation for IDAC_Control. In this embodiment, a digital value,which may be a temperature in Kelvin scale, or Celsius scale orFahrenheit scale, or a value that may correspond to any of thetemperature scales, may be utilized as an input to a lookup table. Theoutput of the lookup table may be the IDAC_Control. Furthermore, theIDAC_Control may be separately calculated, or looked up, for the twoDACs 205 and 220.

Accordingly, the present invention may be realized in hardware,software, or a combination of hardware and software. The presentinvention may be realized in a centralized fashion in at least onecomputer system, or in a distributed fashion where different elementsare spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind ofcomputer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methodsdescribed herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware andsoftware may be a general-purpose computer system with a computerprogram that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computersystem such that it carries out the methods described herein.

The present invention may also be embedded in a computer programproduct, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation ofthe methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer systemis able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the presentcontext means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of aset of instructions intended to cause a system having an informationprocessing capability to perform a particular function either directlyor after either or both of the following: a) conversion to anotherlanguage, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different materialform.

While the present invention has been described with reference to certainembodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatvarious changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material tothe teachings of the present invention without departing from its scope.Therefore, it is intended that the present invention not be limited tothe particular embodiment disclosed, but that the present invention willinclude all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

1. A method for output power control, the method comprising: sampling a temperature at a plurality of time instants for an on-chip transmitter circuit; determining a feedback temperature compensation value at a particular one of said plurality of time instants; and adjusting at least one digital-to-analog converter utilizing said determined feedback temperature compensation value, wherein said determined feedback temperature compensation value corresponds to said sampled temperature.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one digital-to-analog converter comprises an I-component digital-to-analog converter and a Q-component digital-to-analog converter.
 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising characterizing at least a portion of said on-chip transmitter circuit to determine power output dependence of said on-chip transmitter circuit on temperature variation of said on-chip transmitter circuit.
 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising generating a lookup table of said determined feedback temperature compensation values corresponding to said sampled temperatures based on said characterization of said at least a portion of said on-chip transmitter circuit.
 5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising acquiring said determined feedback temperature compensation value from said lookup table based on said sampled temperature.
 6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising calculating said determined feedback temperature compensation value utilizing a compensation algorithm, wherein said determined feedback temperature compensation value is equal to ((an initial compensation value)+((said sampled temperature−an initial temperature)/(a scale factor))).
 7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising assigning a default value to said initial compensation value.
 8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising assigning a default value to said initial temperature.
 9. The method according to claim 6, further comprising assigning a default value to said scale factor.
 10. The method according to claim 6, wherein an output of said digital-to-analog converter is a desired value when said determined feedback temperature compensation value is equal to said initial compensation value and said sampled temperature is equal to said initial temperature.
 11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sampling said temperature at a periodic rate.
 12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising varying said periodic rate.
 13. The method according to claim 11, further comprising varying said periodic rate in response to a changing rate of said sampled temperature.
 14. A system for output power control, the system comprising: an on-chip temperature sensor circuit that samples temperature in an on-chip transmitter circuit at a plurality of time instants; and at least one digital-to-analog converter in said on-chip transmitter circuit that is adjusted via a feedback temperature compensation value at a particular one of said plurality of time instants, wherein said determined feedback temperature compensation value corresponds to said sampled temperature.
 15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said at least one digital-to-analog converter comprises an I-component digital-to-analog converter and a Q-component digital-to-analog converter.
 16. The system according to claim 14, wherein at least a portion of said on-chip transmitter circuit is characterized to determine power output dependence of said on-chip transmitter circuit on temperature variation of said on-chip transmitter circuit.
 17. The system according to claim 16, further comprising a lookup table of said determined feedback temperature compensation values that corresponds to said sampled temperatures based on said characterization of said at least a portion of said on-chip transmitter circuit.
 18. The system according to claim 17, further comprising circuitry to acquire said determined feedback temperature compensation value from said lookup table based on said sampled temperature.
 19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said determined feedback temperature compensation value is calculated utilizing a compensation algorithm, wherein said determined feedback temperature compensation value is equal to ((an initial compensation value)+((a present temperature−an initial temperature)/(a scale factor))).
 20. The system according to claim 19, wherein a default value is assigned to said initial compensation value.
 21. The system according to claim 19, wherein a default value is assigned to said initial temperature.
 22. The system according to claim 19, wherein a default value is assigned to said scale factor.
 23. The system according to claim 19, wherein an output of said digital-to-analog converter is a desired value when said determined feedback temperature compensation value is equal to said initial compensation value and said sampled temperature is equal to said initial temperature.
 24. The system according to claim 14, wherein said sampling of said temperature is at a periodic rate.
 25. The system according to claim 24, wherein said periodic rate is varied.
 26. The system according to claim 24, wherein said periodic rate varies in response to a changing rate of said sampled temperature.
 27. A machine-readable storage having stored thereon, a computer program having at least one code section for transmitter output power compensation in a data processing system, the at least one code section being executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform steps comprising: sampling a temperature at a plurality of time instants for an on-chip transmitter circuit; determining a feedback temperature compensation value at a particular one of said plurality of time instants; and adjusting at least one digital-to-analog converter utilizing said determined feedback temperature compensation value, wherein said determined feedback temperature compensation value corresponds to said sampled temperature.
 28. The machine-readable storage according to claim 27, further comprising code for characterizing at least a portion of said on-chip transmitter circuit to determine power output dependence of said on-chip transmitter circuit on temperature variation of said on-chip transmitter circuit.
 29. The machine-readable storage according to claim 28, further comprising code for generating a lookup table of said determined feedback temperature compensation values corresponding to said sampled temperatures based on said characterization of said at least a portion of said on-chip transmitter circuit.
 30. The machine-readable storage according to claim 28, further comprising code for calculating said determined feedback temperature compensation value utilizing a compensation algorithm, wherein said determined feedback temperature compensation value is equal to ((an initial compensation value)+((said sampled temperature−an initial temperature)/(a scale factor))). 